Joseph, 24, was a combined 8-3 with 18 saves and a 1.72 ERA in 44 relief appearances in Class AA and Class AAA this season. He was a third-round pick in 2009 out of the University of Houston.

Sulbaran, 22, was 7-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts for Class AA Pensacola this year. He had struck out 111 and walked 54 in 104 2/3 innings.

Broxton, 28, had a 2.27 ERA with 23 saves in 35 2/2 innings this season. However, he has pitched only one inning since July 20 due to the Royals' recent slide. Broxton has pitched only five innings all month.

He has revitalized his career in 2012 following two down seasons with the Dodgers. He had 36 saves in 2009 and 22 saves in 2010, then struggled with a loss in velocity last season, pitching in only 14 games and producing a 5.68 ERA and seven saves. He had season-ending arthroscopic elbow surgery last September.

"He's been very solid down there," manager Ned Yost said of Holland. "He was pretty obvious for me right now. He's been pretty consistent, and we feel his stuff is all the way back to where it was last year, when he was really successful."

Holland has four major league saves, all last year.

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MLB Team Report - Kansas City Royals - NOTES, QUOTES

--One more game left in July for the Royals. That's all, just one Tuesday night against the Indians at home after an off day Monday.

No team will be happier to flip the calendar to August then the Royals.

Kansas City will need to beat Cleveland on Tuesday to prevent from having their worst July in franchise history.

The Royals are 6-19 in July. Their worst July record was 7-20 in 2004. In July 2009, they were 7-19.

The Royals have not batted that badly in July. Their .279 average ranked third in the majors for the month through Sunday, while their 113 runs were tied for eighth. They ranked 24th with 19 home runs and 16th with a .416 slugging percentage.

However, the pitiful pitching can accept the lion's share for the pathetic July record. The team ERA is 5.69, the worst in the majors. The Royals have allowed the most home runs, 37; given up the most hits, 260; and rank next to last in walks plus hits per inning pitches, 1.54.

--3B Mike Moustakas returned to the lineup Tuesday. He suffered a bone bruise on his right knee while diving for a ball in the first inning Saturday at Seattle and had not played since then.

--CF Jarrod Dyson went 1-for-2 with two runs while batting ninth Sunday. In the past 17 games, Royals' No. 9 hitters have hit .356 (21-for-59) with two home runs, four doubles, two triples, 12 RBI and 14 runs.

--LHP Will Smith logged his third quality start Sunday at Seattle in six starts. It was the rookie's first career start without walking a batter. He got a no-decision, giving up three runs in six innings.

--DH Billy Butler was selected the American League Player of the Week. This is the fourth career weekly honor for Butler, who hit .458 (11-for-24) with three doubles, one home run, five walks, six RBI and four runs on a seven-game West Coast trip. Butler's .551 on-base percentage for the week topped the AL, while he was tied for first in hits and second in batting average. He tied for third with 17 total bases and fourth with a .708 slugging percentage. In Thursday's loss at Seattle, Butler's two doubles were the only Kansas City hits. He had four consecutive multi-hit games on the trip.

--RHP Jake Odorizzi, the Royals' top pitching prospect, improved to 8-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.01 with a victory Sunday night for Class AAA Omaha at Oklahoma City. He allowed one unearned run in 5 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out five.

--LHP Mike Montgomery, a top pitching prospect, picked up a victory Sunday night for Class AA Northwest Arkansas. Montgomery allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over seven innings.

BY THE NUMBERS: 10 -- Consecutive losses by the Royals in day games.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We need a day off, everybody needs a day off." -- Manager Ned Yost, after the Royals' 1-6 trip to Seattle and Anaheim.

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MLB Team Report - Kansas City Royals - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--3B Mike Moustakas (bruised right knee) did not play July 29. He was back in the lineup July 31.

--RHP Felipe Paulino (torn ligament in right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 7 with a strained right groin, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 14. He made a rehab start for Class AA Northwest Arkansas on June 20, but he left after three innings and 54 pitches when he felt pain in his elbow. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in early July.

--LHP Danny Duffy (torn ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list May 14, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 14. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery June 13.

--RHP Blake Wood (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 22. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery May 24.

--RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 3. He will miss the season.